A Window To New Learning Are Always Open

It was thought the brain was hardwired, and that dyslexia was permanent. Then in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s several scientists (Hubel, Weisel, Merzenich) discovered neuroplasticity, the capacity of the brain to change its structure and function through experience and training.

This potential to rewire learning was confirmed in the early 1990’s with the invention of the fMRI when pre- and post-testing showed brains normalizing after certain dyslexia treatments.

This potential for the brain to change means that learning outcomes in early life are not final, that the window for learning gains remains open throughout life. Our online dyslexia treatment at home, using Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant, taps into this opportunity.

Dyslexia Treatment Steps

Dyslexia is most often caused by language processing delays that impair how language is heard, described as like listening to sound through water (Karen Foli). This muddiness can sometimes impact listening, causing delays in speech or inattentiveness at school. And it almost always impacts phonological awareness, which requires a much high level of processing accuracy. Phonological awareness is essential for decoding, reading automaticity and reading comprehension.

Most people think of dyslexia as permanent because the help they received — tutoring, special glasses, extra reading lessons at school, etc. — did not work that well. This is because these activities are not interventions — they are not designed to address the underlying processing delays that cause dyslexia. Instead, they help children cope with dyslexia in spite of their underlying difficulties.

Our treatment for dyslexia is different. It is an intervention that goes after the underlying difficulty and then builds reading skills, step by step.

Target The Underlying Cause
Students make hundreds of clicks every day to exercise processing speed, working memory, attention and sequencing skills. The software adds speed and complexity at the student’s pace, gradually pulling the brain up to higher ability levels.

Make Reading Easier & More Fluent
Fluent reading also requires language dexterity — sound grammar, vocabulary and spelling skills — which we address after the first 4-8 weeks.

Our goal is to help your child build cognitive skill levels beyond those associated with dyslexia. Not all brains can be led to those higher levels, even in the tiny incremental steps our program uses, but many can. In all cases, as long as protocols are followed, our treatment will change the way a dyslexic student reads as shown on an fMRI. This almost always translates into measurable gains in reading skills and (at the very least) a reduction in dyslexia symptoms.

We customize our programs by student age and need. The software then adapts to the student, creating an individualized experience.

Fast Acting and Enduring

The fastest way to fix a problem is to find the source of difficulty and then fix it. This is our software solution helps dyslexia. Most students start to see acceleration in their reading progress after only a few weeks. Our full dyslexia course averages 4-6 months, varying according to the students needs and goals.

Our dyslexia treatment is also enduring. Once core language processing and related cognitive skills are learned, they integrate and become part of your child. These skills are then practiced every day through listening, interacting with others in conversation and of course while reading.

The brain is an amazing organ. With the right stimulation, it can improve much more quickly and more profoundly than you might think. Our students average 1-2 years of reading gain in their first 2-3 months, with more acceleration after that. Our results speak for themselves.

It is also true that without treatment, dyslexic symptoms may last a lifetime. The brain is constantly self-improving (Merzenich, 2004). At some point though it needs guidance, otherwise it gets boxed in, out of ideas on how to improve reading. That’s what our software does. It challenges the brain to focus on building phonological and related cognitive skills as way to improve reading and reduce dyslexia symptoms.

Find Out If Our Online Dyslexia Treatment Can Help Your Child

These days there are online programs for reading that claim to help dyslexia. If they are followed rigorously, maybe they are. But working at home is a tough assignment. The distractions are many, and the motivation are few.

Consequently, we believe our secret sauce is the remote personalized guidance we provide through our trained professionals. These professionals monitor and guide. They act as a mentor and coach, encouraging you and your child to stick with the protocols to get the rewards this amazing software offers.

To find out if our online dyslexia treatment at home is suitable for you or your child, call a Gemm Learning specialist for a free consult.